Improvement iw fountain-pens



W. E. THOMAS. Fountain-Pens.

Patented Feb. 17.1874.

Attorneys.

UNITED \"VILLIAM E. THOMAS, OF QUEENSTOWVN, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOUNTAIN-TENS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. iitfflbh dated February 17, 1874; application filed September 11,1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. THOMAS, of Queenstown, in the county of Queen Anne and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fountain-Pens and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of pens which are provided with a tubular handle or barrel, designed to serve as an ink-reservoir,- and it has for its object to improve the construction of said pens, so as to render the same more convenient in use and effective in operation than others heretofore constructed.

The invention consists in applying to the ink reservoir or barre], having a funnel-sh aped mouth for facility in filling, a stopper or cap, which is perforated for the passage of a taperin g plug used for regulating the admission of air to the ink-reservoir, said stopper being also provided with a depressed or concave upper end, so as to collect any ink which is caused to flow out of the barrel by adhering to the air regulating plug.

In the drawing, Figure l is a longitudinal section of a fountainpen constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same.

The barrel or handle A, made tubular to serve as an ink-reservoir, is provided with a funnel-shaped upper end, B, for facilitating the filling operation, and with a lower contracted and curved discharge-tube, a, as shown. 1) is a stopper or plug, which is inserted into the mouth of the barrel A for closing the same, and provided with a tapering plug or valve, 0, for regulating the admission of air to the ink reservoir. The stopper is held in the mouth of the barrel either by friction or by a screw-connection, and is formed with a cupshaped or conical depression, (I, in its upper end, which is intended to receive all ink drawn from the barrel by the air-regulating plug G; for it will be perceived that when the pen is in a horizontal position, the ink will come in contact with saidplug, and a portion of the ink adhering to the plug will, when the same is drawn'outward to regulate the admission or air, flow from the barrel, when it is caught by the cup shaped depression, thus preventing it from passing down the barrel. E is an open ring or ferrule, cut or split longitudinally,

as shown, and loosely surrounding the lower portion of the barrel or handle, but grasping the same sufliciently to secure it in place by friction alone. Said ring E is moved over the shank of the pen for holding it firmly in position, and being possessed of sufficient elasticity, it can be spread to accom modate itself to receiving pens of varying sizes, which is a great desideratum, as will be obvious.

The operation of filling the reservoir or bar rel with ink is accomplished without remov= ing the pen therefrom, by turning the barrel around so as to bring the lower curve-d dropping-tube away from the pen, in which position the finger of the operator is applied to the discharge-orifice while the ink is being poured into the upper end of the same. The stopper and plug are then inserted, and the latter closed tightly so as to exclude air, and then the barrel is rotated within the sleeve until curved discharge-tube is brought in proper relation to the pen for supplying ink to the same.

The rotary movement of the barrel or reservoir in the sleeve is effected by holding the latter with the thumb and forefinger of one hand so as to grasp the pen, and then the barrel is turned with the other hand until the tube is brought into the desired position. The efflux of the ink, when the reservoir is properly supplied to feed the pen, is accomplished by loosening the valveplug so as to allow air to enter the barrel, the pressure of which then expels the ink. hen not in use, the plug is tightened, thus excluding the air from the in kreservoir, and preventing the flow of the ink.

A fountain-pen constructed as above described possesses many advantages over those heretofore constructed, and being composed of as few parts as possible, it is not liable to become clogged in use. The detachable connection of the dropping-tube also permits the bar rel to be readily cleaned when requisite.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The stopper or plug provided with a cupshaped upper end and air regulating plug, when combined with the barrel of a fountainpen, as and for the purpose set forth.

WILLIAM E. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

SoLoN C. KEMON, CHAS. A. Pnrrrr. 

